Spindle drive arrangement for a spinning machine and the like



July 23, 1963 R. KRAMER ETAL 3,098,345

SPINDLE DRIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR A SPINNING MACHINE AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 8, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. Raff Kramer BY rm/z firez/zkzger July 23, 1963 R. KRAMER ETAL 3,098,345

SPINDLE DRIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR A SPINNING MACHINE AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 8, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 WM Q/ 4 July 23, 1963 R. KRAMER ETAL 3,

SPINDLE DRIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR A SPINNING MACHINE AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 8, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS. [Ea/f Kramer By Erwin fired n e1 Frz'fz' WP'f/ie/rz G'ezzezfiled 4/0 6 July 23, 1963 R. KRAMER ETAL 3,098,345

SPINDLE DRIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR A SPINNING MACHINE AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 8. 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INIf ENTORS. Raff firaz rzfi BY Era/z Breilf zz er Fri/z MFA e412 Grer M Z./ a;

July 23, 1963 R. KRAMER ETAL 3,098,345

SPINDLE DRIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR A SPINNING MACHINE AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 8. 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 55 W. -1 INVENTORS,

1205 Kramer y Erna}: Ere/'6'" er Fri/2 Myfiefm Geher Wop/4% 4 July 23, 1963 R. KRAMER \ETAL 3,093,345

SPINDLE DRIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR A SPINNING MACHINE AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 8, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS. Rap, Kid mar BY Erwin flrel'zzkzger fivfz Mffielrz Ger-Aer July 23, 1963 R. KRAMER ETAL SPINDLE DRIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR A SPINNING MACHINE AND THE LIKE 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Aug. 8, 1960 IN V EN TORS- Z Z Z H a a 2 5 WP July 23, 1963 R. KRAMER ETAL 3,093,345

SPINDLE DRIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR A SPINNING MACHINE AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 8, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 IIY/VENTORS. 190/ 5 ram er BY Era/(r2 Brei/lkger 3,098,345 SPWDLE DRIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR A SPINNING MAQHINE AND THE LIKE Rolf Kramer, Stuttgart-Feuerbach, Erwin Breitinger, Waiblingen, Wurtternhcrg, and Fritz Wilhelm Gerber, Kirchheim, Unterteck, Germany, assignors to fifth Kugellagerfabriken Gesellschaft mit beschriinlrtcr Haftung, Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt, Germany, a German company Filed Aug. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 48,103 Claims priority, application Germany Aug. 2% 1959 12 Claims. (Cl. 57-102) This invention relates to textile machines, and more particularly to a spindle drive arrangement for a spinning or twisting machine.

In a known type of spindle drive arrangement, a drive shaft driven [by an electric motor or other prime mover is mounted on the machine frame and carries a plurality of drive wheels each being associated with one of a plurality of spindles which are rotatably mounted on the frame in an elongated row parallel to the shaft. Rotary movement is transmitted from the wheels to the respective spindles by motion transmitting members. In the event of mechanical failure of the motion transmitting train associated with one of the spindles, and also during normal operation of the machine, it is sometimes necessary to stop rotation of individual spindles. In the interest of economical operation of the machine, it is preferred that the other spindles maintain their rotary movement while one is being arrested.

In the conventional arrangement of a motion transmitting train interposed between the drive shaft and each of the spindles, it is not readily possible to arrest a single spindle without adversely affecting the rotary speed of the other spindles. Various devices have been proposed to overcome this condition, but those that are effective require relatively complex apparatus involving relatively high first cost, and are relatively expensive to maintain in working condition.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of a spindle drive arrangement for a spinning machine and the like, in which individual spindles can be arrested without affecting the rotary speed of the other spindles on the machine.

Another object is the provision of such an arrangement which is simple in structure, and thus of relatively low cost, and easy to maintain in good working condition.

A further object is a spindle drive arrangement which is composed of a minimum number of moving parts so as to simplify maintenance of the drive, and to reduce the expense of maintenance operations.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a spindle drive arrangement which is very compact and occupies as little space as possible so that a large number of spindles can be mounted on a relatively small frame, yet without crowding the structural elements of the drive, and with all parts readily accessible for repair and replacement as required.

Yet another object is the provision of a drive arrangement of the type described, in which the drive does not induce vibrations of the spindles and does not interfere with their resilient response to variations in the tension of the thread or yarn which is being wound.

With these and other objects in view, the invention provides a support frame, and a drive shaft rotatably mounted on the frame. A wheel is fastened to the shaft for driving engagement with another rotary member. The rotary member is connected to a pulley member for joint rotation about a common axis. A belt is trained over the pulley member and the whorl portion of 3,098,345 Fatented July 23, 1963 a coordinated spindle on the support frame, and actuates rotation of the spindle.

The exact nature of this invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will be readily apparent from consideration of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof relating to the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a portion of a spinning or twisting frame including a plurality of individual spindles and a drive arrangement for actuating rotation of the spindles, the frame being shown in plan view;

FIG. 2 shows the apparatus of FIG. 1 in side-eleva tional section on the lines IIII;

FIG. 3 shows a modified drive arrangement for a spinning or twisting frame in a view corresponding to that of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates an additional modification of the drive arrangement of FIG. 2.;

FIG. 5 shows a spinning or twisting frame equipped with another embodiment of the drive arrangement of the invention, the frame being shown in fragmentary plan view;

FIG. 6 is a side-elevational sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 5, the section being taken on the line VI-VI;

FIG. 7 illustrates a spinning or twisting frame provided with yet another embodiment of the drive arrangement of the invention in the view corresponding to that of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 shows the apparatus of FIG. 7 in side-elevational section on the line VIIIVIII;

FIG. 9 is a side-elevational sectional view of a further drive arrangement of the invention for a spinning or twisting frame, of which only those elements in immediate co operation with the device of the invention are shown, the view being in side-elevational section;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary front-elevational view of the spinning frame and the drive arrangement of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 shows the arrangement of FIG. 10 in plan v1ew.

Referring now to the drawing and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is seen a drive shaft 1 which is mounted in the support frame (not shown) of a spinning or twisting machine and is driven by an electric motor 40 in a wellknown manner. A plurality of spindles 2 of which only four are visible in FIG. 1 are arranged on the machine frame in a row along the shaft 1 for rotation about parallel respective axes laterally offset from the drive shaft and extending in respective planes which are radial with respect to the shaft.

Wheel shaped friction disks 3 with beveled friction rims are mounted on the shaft 1 adjacent each of the radial planes, and each disk rim frictionally engages a friction face on a rotary member 8 which is hereinafter referred to as a friction wheel. As best seen from FIG. 2, the friction wheel 8 has a conical friction face which is in abutting engagement with the matingly shaped friction rim on the disk 3. The wheel 8 is journaled on a shaft 7 by means of ball bearings 10 and carries a coaxial pulley member 9. The shaft 7 is supported by a bracket 6 which is mounted on the spindle rail 4, an element of the spinning machine frame.

The cylindrical stationary portion of the spindle 2 is fastened to the spindle rail 4 by a nut 5 which threadedly engages a foot portion of the spindle 2. The movable portion of the spindle 2 includes a bobbin carrier 2" and a whorl 2' over which an endless drive belt 11 is trained. The belt is driven by the pulley member 9.

The bracket 6 has the shape of a bell crank lever the pivot of which is constituted by a resilient rod 12 adjustably secured to a block 13 which in turn is adjustably fastened to the spindle rail 4 by a shoulder screw 14.

The longer arm of the bell crank lever 6 arches around the drive shaft 1, and the free end of the longer lever arm carries the shaft 7 with the wheel 8 and pulley member 9. The short arm 6' of the lever 6 extends at approximately right angles to the long arm. It is formed with an opening through which a bolt 16 passes. The bolt threadedly engages a mating bore in the block 13 and is axially adjustable in the bore. A helical coil spring 15 coaxial with the bolt 16 has two ends respectively abutting against the head of the bolt 16 and the arm 6' of the lever 6, and urges the lever 6 to rotate clockwise as viewed in FIG. 2.

An angularly bent operating handle 17 is hingedly attached to the head of the shoulder screw 14 by means of a pivot pin 13. A plunger rod 19 which is slidably guided in a bore of the spindle rail 4 is loosely interposed between a portion of the handle 17 adjacent the pivot pin 18 and the shorter arm 6 of the lever 6.

A brake member is mounted on each shaft 7 between the two strands of the belt 11. Only one brake member has bceen illustrated in FIG. 1 in order not to crowd the drawing, but it will be understood that a drive arrangement as shown in FIG. 2 in elevational section is associated with each of the four spindles seen in FIG. 1.

The brake member has an arm portion 20 that radially extends from the pin 7 toward the whorl 2 of the associated spindle 2, and a front portion 20' having the approximate shape of an inverted letter T depending from the arm portion 20. The central or stem portion of the T- shape has a friction face for braking engagement with the whorl 2 between the two strands of the belt 11, and the two arm portions of the T-shape extend on either side of the stem portion under the two strands of the belt 11.

The entire drive arrangement is enclosed in a removable housing 21 not shown in FIG. 1 which is mounted on the spindle rail 4 and from which the bobbin carrier 2" and the handle 17 project.

The aforedescribed device operates as follows:

The resilient rod 12 is fastened to the block 13 the position of which is adjusted in such a manner that the friction wheel 8 is urged against the corresponding beveled rim of the disk 3 by the bell crank lever shaped bracket 6. The force of the spring 15 urges the lever 6 to move in a clockwise direction about the pivot formed by the rod 12 and thus tensions the belt 11.

The action of the shorter lever arm 6' on the plunger rod .19 if not restrained by the belt 11 urges the handle 17 to pivot clockwise about the pin 18, but pivoting movement of the handle is limited by abutment of opposite contact faces on the handle and on the head of the shoulder pin 14. In the event of belt failure, the lever 6 can move from the position illustrated until the underside of the shorter lever arm 6 abuts against the rod 19 from which it is normally separated by a short distance as shown in FIG. 2.

When it is desired to arrest the rotary movement of the spindle 2, the handle 17, the free end of which faces the spinning machine operator, is moved in the direction of the arrow A toward the housing 21, thereby raising the rod 19 as indicated by an arrow. The ensuing counterclockwise movement of the bracket 6, as viewed in FIG. 2, causes displacement of the shaft 7 in the direction of the arrow B toward the spindle 2.

As the belt 11 thereby loses its tension, it slips on the pulley member 9, the whorl 2', or both, so that the bobbin carrier 2" is not driven any longer. As the pulley member 9 further approaches the whorl 2, the friction of the belt 11 on the pullley member and the whorl becomes so small as to be overcome by the weight of the belt which drops on the arm portions of the brake member portion 20. Upon continued movement of the handle 17, the friction face on the stern portion of brake member portion 20' is brought into engagement with the whorl 2, and the spindle is stopped. If it should be desired to withdraw the movable spindle portion from the stationary part, the handle 17 is then slightly relaxed so as to move the l friction face of the brake member portion 20' away from the whorl 2' without however tensioning the belt 11.

Upon reinsertion of the movable spindle portion, or whenever otherwise the spindle is ready to resume rotation, the handle 17 is released, and the belt is tensioned again. As seen from FIG. 2, the pulley member 9 has a barrel shaped belt face between two guide rims. The belt 11 will tend to assume a position on the portion of the barrel shape which has the greatest diameter, and will rise from the previous position on the arms of the T-shaped portion 29' of the brake member. It will be understood that catches may be provided on the housing 21 to hold the handle 17 in a position in which the brake is applied, and in a position in which the brake is released, but the belt still is not tensioned so as to permit the operator to take his hands from the handle 17, and to perform necessary meltlintenance or other operations while the spindle 2 stands sti By suitably adjusting the position of the block 13, a portion of the resilient strength of the rod 12 may be used to contribute to the tension of the belt 11. One compo nent of the resilient force of the rod 12 is utilized for providing the contact pressure between the disk 3 and the wheel 8, and another component is applied to the belt in cooperation with the helical spring 15. Both components are adjustable as to the force applied and the direction of the force by the adjustable mounting of the block 13 on the rail 4. The belt tension is adjustable further by axially shifting the bolt 16 the head of which compresses the spring 15.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, all the elements of the drive mechanism are readily accessible to the operator for maintenance purposes as soon as the housing 21 is removed. The drive shaft 1 extends in front and along the spindles 2, and the friction wheels 8, pulley members 9, and belts 11 are mounted above the drive shaft in an extremely compact, yet freely accessible assembly. Replacement of belts 11, for example, is readily performed without tools.

If access to the spindles 2 is of primary importance under specific operating conditions, the arrangement of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3 is preferred. This arrangement is in many respects a mirror image of the drive arrangement shown in FIG. 2, with the drive shaft 1 arranged behind an otherwise identical row of spindles 2 when considered from the operators position on the right of the spinning machine as viewed in FIG. 3. The bracket 6a which carries the friction wheel 8 and the pulley member 9 for the belt 11 is substantially identical in structure and function with the bracket 6 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but the means for moving the bracket 6 for relieving the tension of the belt 11 are different to suit the reversed position of the operator.

The shaft 7 on which the wheel 8 and the pulley member 9 are rotatable extends upward through the arm 20 of the brake member and outside through a slot in the housing 21. The outwardly projecting portion of the shaft 7 carries a knob 22. When the knob 22 is moved in the direction of the arrow B toward the spindle 2, the belt tension is relieved, and the spindle is braked to a standstill in the same manner as explained above in connection with the operation of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The knob 22 is located behind the row of bobbin carriers 2" but it is still within easy reach of the operator without requiring him to walk to the back of the machine. The front of the machine is practically flush with the bobbins being wound.

FIG. 4 illustrates another modification of the drive arrangement of the invention in side-elevational section corresponding to the views of FIGS. 2 and 3. The spindle mounting is of the well known type in which the stationary portion of each spindle 2 is partially passed through a corresponding opening of the spindle trail 4, and is axially secured in the rail by means of an arrangement of a flanged bushing and nut. The bracket 611 carries the friction wheel 8 and pulley member 9 from which the belt 11 extends to the whorl portion 2' of the spindle 2.

Since the spindle rail 4' is not conveniently located for mounting the bracket 61) thereon, a supporting rail 23 is provided which is an element of the rigid frame structure of the machine, not otherwise shown. The block 13 is mounted on the rail 23 and maybe adjustable thereon, in the same manner as discussed above. To provide the necessary tension in the belt 11, a leaf spring 24 is bent into a U-shape and inserted in this prestressed condition between the block 13 and the shorter arm of the bracket 6b in such a manner that one leg of the U-shape lies against the block and the other leg against the bracket arm. The tensioning force of the spring 24 can be adjusted by means of a contact screw 25 which is axially adjustable in the shorter bracket arm and presses against the free end of the spring 24.

While means for moving the bracket 6b toward the spindle 2 have not been illustrated for the sake of clarity, it will be understood that the drive arrangement of FIG. 4 is compatible with both the handle 17 and the associated motion transmitting elements as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and with the arrangement of an extended shaft 7' and a knob on the shaft as shown in FlG. 3. The operation of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4 is basically the same as described hereinbefore.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show another embodiment of the spindle drive arrangement of the invention in which the spindles are mounted in a spindle rail 4' in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIG. 4. A friction disk 3' which is associated with each one of the spindles 2 and is fixedly mounted on the shaft 1 has a beveled friction rim which is a separate structural element mounted on the basic disk. The friction rim is shaped in the manner of a spiral bevel gear with alternating projections and recesses extending from points along the circumference of the rim in a radially inward and circumferential direction on the conical rim surface. The friction wheel 31 is shaped to mate with the disk 3'. The configuration of the interengaging projections and recesses in the faces of the disk 3 and the wheel 31 is such that a tangential displacement of the wheel 31 relative to the disk 3- due to stretching of the belt 11 will not interfere with smooth meshing of the disk 3' and wheel 31.

The wheel 31 together with the pulley member 9 is mounted on a bracket constituted by three elements: a stationary support 33 on the machine frame; a fiat leaf spring 32, the major plane of which is parallel to the axes of the disk 3' and wheel 31, and which has one end fastened to the support 33; and a block 34 secured to the other end of the leaf spring 32. The spring 32 is prestressed so as to exert belt tensioning pressure on the pulley member 9 in the direction of the arrow D transversely of the axis of the shaft 1.

Because of the orientation of its major plane at right angles to the plane of FIG. 6, the spring 32 cannot provide resilient contact pressure between the disk 3' and the wheel 31. Because of the corrugated shape of the contact faces, strong contact pressure between these elements is not always required. If desired, a cup spring arrangement as shown in FIG. and described hereinafter may be provided to urge the disk 3 and wheel 31 against each other in the direction of the axis of the shaft 1.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a drive arrangement in which a single friction wheel 31' transmits power for driving two spindles by means of individual belts 11, the modified arrangement being shown in plan view and side-elevational section respectively.

A double pulley member 9" is coaxially superimposed on friction wheel 31' and actuates travel of two belts 11 over respective whorl portions 2' of two spindles 2. The friction wheel 31 is supported by a bracket arrangement substantially identical with that illustrated in FIGS. 5

6 and 6, and engages a driving friction disk 3" on the shaft 1.

The interengaged contact faces of the disk 3" and the wheel 31' are provided with two radially spaced rows of projections of approximately elliptical cross section. On the beveled rim of the disk 3", the long axes of the ellipses extend approximately radially, and the projections in the radially inner row are circumferentially offset relative to those of the radially outer row so that the projections in the two rows are staggered as best seen from FIG. 8. The projections on the wheel 31' are correspondingly staggered for smooth meshing of the projections and intervening recesses on the contact faces regardless of the length of the belts 11.

To permit some compensation for unequal length changes of the two belts 11 associated with a single pulley member 3", the leaf spring 32 is fastened to the support 33 by bolts and can be shifted on the bolts in the direction of the axis of the shaft 1. The axial length of the projections on the disk 3" and the wheel 13' is such as to permit axial movement of the spring 32 without impairing motion transmitting engagement between the disk and the wheel. The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 may also be equipped with the cup spring arrangement shown in FIG. 10 which will be described presently.

The arrangement of projections and corresponding re cesses on the disk 3 and wheel 31 may be modified within wide limits without exceeding the scope of this invention. The specially shaped contact faces are preferably separate structural elements which are releasably mounted on the basic disk or wheel structure as by soldering of suitably shaped metallic annular or segmented face elements to the basic structure. Both metallic materials and non-metallic material, such as molded polyamide material, have been found useful for the contact faces. The choice of a material is normally determined by specific operating requirements.

A final example of an embodiment of the drive arrangement of the invention is shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, which illustrate the drive arrangement and associated other elements of a spinning machine in side-elevational section, front elevation, and plan view respectively. A row of spindles 2, each having a whorl portion 2 and a bobbin carrier 2" extends along a drive shaft 1, and the individual spindles are mounted on a spindle rail 4' as described above.

A plurality of friction disks 3, each of which is associated with one spindle 2, is mounted on the shaft 1. The disks are axially slidable on the shaft and spaced from each other in the operating condition of the drive arrangement as the spindles 2 are spaced on the rail 4'. The disks 3 have beveled rims which are in driving engagement with conically shaped friction wheels 8. The friction Wheels are journaled in a portion 36 of the frame of the spinning machine which extends parallel to the shaft 1. Each wheel 8' is fixedly connected to a pulley member 9' over which a belt 11 is trained for transmitting the movement of the shaft 1 to the spindle 2. Firm engagement of the disk 3 with the wheel 8' is provided by a cup spring 35 which is freely movable on the shaft 1. The cup spring abuts against a fixed collar 37 on the shaft 1 and axially presses the disc 3 against the wheel 8.

As best seen from FIG. 11, strands of two belts associated with juxtaposed spindles run side by side in opposite directions. In the drive arrangement shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, a bar 27 is mounted on a stationary element 30 of the spinning machine frame, and is adjustable thereon in the direction of the arrow C. The bar 27 longitudinally extends parallel to the axis of the shaft 1.

Between the strands of two belts 11 of juxtaposed spindles 2, a tension roller 26 is mounted on a bracket 23 which is pivoted to the bar 27 by a horizontal pin 28 substantially parallel to the main direction of movement of the two belt strands between the spindle 2 and the 7 pulley member 9'. The axis of rotation of the tension roller 26 is radial with respect to the pin 28 and substantially upright. The force of gravity thus tends to tilt the roller 26 into engagement with one of the belts 11. To increase the force exerted by the roller 26 on the belts 11, a Weight 29 is suspended from the bracket 28.

As seen in FIG. 11, the tension roller 26 is tilted into engagement with the belt 11 of the left spindle 2. The contact face of the roller is of conical shape so that in the tilted position shown the plane of contact between the belt 11 and the roller 26 is approximately tangential relative to the roller face. The roller tensions the slack strand of the belt 11 of the left spindle 2 by deflecting it toward the tight strand.

It will be understood that there is one tension roller 26 interposed between each pair of belt strands of adjacent spindles. The presence of a second roller 26 is indicated by the corresponding deflection in the slack strand of the belt trained about the whorl of the right spindle in FIG. 11, the belt being shown by a fully drawn line.

When it is desired to reverse the direction of spindle rotation, and thus of the belt movement, the bar 27 on which all tension rollers 26 are mounted is shifted on the stationary element 30 in the direction of the arrow C in FIG. 11. The pin 28 of each tension roller bracket 23 is thereby shifted beyond a point of vertical alignment with the plane of contact between the roller 26 and the belt 11, and the roller topples over into a position of cooperation with the opposite belt strand. The two positions of the bracket, pin, and roller are outlined in FIG. in broken and chain-dotted lines respectively. The resulting deflected shape of the belt 11 of the right spindle, as viewed in FIG. 11, is shown in a broken line with arrows indicating the reversed direction of belt movement. Again, the now tight strand is straight, whereas the slack strand is deflected by the tension roller 26.

The tensioning force exerted by the roller 26 on the belts 11 can be controlled by varying the tensioning weight 29, by replacing the weight by an equivalent spring arrangement, or by supplementing the dead weight arrangement illustrated by additional biasing springs.

Preferably, the movement of the bar 27 which simultaneously shifts the tension rollers 26 of all spindles 2 of a row is linked with the shifting of the direction of rotation of the shaft 1. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 11, the stationary machine frame element 30 carries a reversing switch 38 for the drive motor of the spinning machine which actuates rotation of the shaft 1 as shown in FIG. 1. The switch has a projecting actuating lever. A pin 39 is mounted on the bar 27 and actuates the switch lever during movement of the bar in the direction of the arrow C and opposite thereto. It thereby reverses the direction of movement of the shaft 1. It will be understood that the switch circuit may additionally contain relays, contactors and other electrical elements conventionally employed with electrical motors capable of being reversed. These circuit elements which in themselves do not form part of this invention have not been further illustrated.

If it is desired to arrest one of the spindles of the spinning machine shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the corresponding weight 29 is removed so that the tension in the corresponding belt is relieved. The spindle may then be manually braked to a standstill in the usual manner without adverse effect on the rotary speeds of the other spindles. Additionally, the bracket 28 may be equipped with an actuating member such as the knob 22 shown in FIG. 3 so that the roller 26 may be held in a neutral position in which it is out of effective engagement with either belt 11.

All embodiments of the invention thus provide a spindle drive arrangement in which individual spinning spindles can be arrested without stopping the machine, and without effect on those spindles which continue operating.

The examples of the invention illustrated and described are representative of the relatively simple, rugged and inexpensive drive arrangements to which the present invention lends itself. They are extremely compact, yet permit ready access to all working parts for inspection or maintenance purposes.

A belt interposed between the driving elements and the driven spindle prevents the transmission of vibrations from the drive to the spindle, and permits the spindle to respond with some resiliency to variations in the tension of the thread or yarn which is being wound thereon.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purpose of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a textile machine, a drive shaft mounted for rotation, wheel means carried by said shaft, a support, a spindle mounted on said support, said spindle having a whorl portion, a rotary member mounted on said support for frictional engagement with said wheel means to be rotated by said wheel means, a pulley member to be jointly rotated with said rotary member, belt means trained about said pulley member and whorl portion, bracket means mounted on said support and swingably supporting said rotary member and pulley member for movements of said pulley member toward and from said whorl portion, and means ordinarily urging said pulley member away from said whorl portion for tensioning said belt means.

2. In the machine according to claim 1, said wheel means, spindle, rotary member, pulley member, belt means, bracket means, and pulley member-urging means constituting a unit, said machine including at least one more unit substantially identical with said first named unit.

3. In the machine according to claim 2 a housing partly enclosing said units, and means for individually moving each of the pulley members of said units against the force of said pulley member-urging means, said means for moving said pulley members being constituted by as many members as there are units, each of said moving members projecting from within the housing to be accessible from outside the housing.

4. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, pivot means on said support, said bracket means being secured to said pivot means for swinging movements in a plane transverse of the axis of rotation of said drive shaft.

5. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, resilient fastening means interposed between said bracket means and said support for pivotal movements of said bracket means in a plane transverse of the axis of rotation of said drive shaft.

6. In the machine according to claim 5, said resilient means being prestressed so as to act as said pulley member-urging means.

7. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, said pulley member-urging means including spring means, said spring means acting upon said bracket means.

8. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, said pulley member-urging means including resilient means, said machine including means for moving said pulley member against the force of said resilient means.

9. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, a brake member mounted on said bracket means for joint movement with said pulley member relative to said spindle for braking engagement of said brake member with said spindle when said pulley member moves toward said whorl portion.

10. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, said wheel means and said rotary member having respective face 9 portions formed with interengaging projections and recesses.

11. In the machine according to claim 10, said projections being shaped in the manner of teeth of spiral bevel gears.

12. In the machine as set forth in claim 1, at least a single unit including two spindles, a wheel constituting said wheel means, a rotary member, a double pulley constituting said pulley member, two belts constituting said belt means, each of said belts being trained about said double pulley and the whorl portion of one of said spindles, pulley member-urging means, and a bracket constituting said bracket means.

References (Jited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Trapido et a1. Sept. 24, 1957 Burkhardt Feb. 27, 19162 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany 'Nov. 6, 1928 Germany Nov. 13, 1958 Great Britain Sept. 1, 1948 Great Britain Feb. 9, 1955 

1. IN A TEXTILE MACHINE, DRIVE SHAFT MOUNTED FOR ROTATION, WHEEL MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SHAFT, A SUPPORT, A SPINDLE MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT, SAID SPINDLE HAVING A WHORL PORTION, ROTARY MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT FOR FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID WHEEL MEANS TO BE ROTATED BY SAID WHEEL MEANS, A PULLEY MEMBER TO BE JOINTLY ROTATED WITH SAID ROTARY MEMBER, BELT MEANS TRAINED ABOUT SAID PULLEY MEMBER AND WHORL PORTION, BRACKET MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT AND SWINGABLY SUPPORTING SAID ROTARY MEMBER AND PULLEY MEMBER FOR MOVEMENTS OF SAID PULLEY MEMBER TOWARDS AND FROM SAID WHORL PORTION, AND MEANS ORDINARILY URGING SAID PULLEY MEMBER AWAY FROM SAID WHORL PORTION FOR TENSIONING SAID BELT MEANS. 